lcfc_forever

So seems like the FPL taking us to tribunal failed for 22/23 - shows we were in the right. But looks like the tribunal says there may be doubt we can use the same 'loophole' again for 23-24. Hopefully we get some more info on this. Even if we don't get punished, the uncertainty this creates is hugely damaging. We missed out on a number of player the previous summer because of this, so the risk is it happens again.

Fair on Akgun, I should have made clearer which ones were superb but Akgun clearly had potential, while Cannon was an effective signing in that he did a job for us and we got our money back from a PSR view. Tanner said it was Cooper who pushed for Edouard, and they made a point of Cooper having coached Skipp before - he did play him regularly after signing him but lost patience with him.

Adding the club's statement here so it's in one thread. https://www.lcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/lcfc-statement-20-may-2025 LCFC Statement: 20 May, 2025 Leicester City FC notes the Tribunal decision which has been published today. The Club is pleased that it successfully defended the Premier League’s challenge to the Appeal Board decision in relation to the PSR assessment period ending FY23, which was the main focus of these proceedings. The Premier League’s own rules provide a deliberately high threshold for any challenge to the decision of an Appeal Board. In this case, the Appeal Board’s decision was only capable of being overturned if it could be shown to have resulted from a “perverse interpretation of the law” or was a decision “which could not reasonably have been reached”. The Appeal Board decision was reached by a highly experienced panel (including two former Court of Appeal judges) and, although the tribunal may have disagreed with the decision, it dismissed the Premier League’s challenge, finding (consistent with the arguments made by the Club all along) that the Appeal Board decision “could not sensibly be seen as resulting from a perverse interpretation of the law”. The tribunal also concluded that the Premier League was successful in establishing jurisdiction on one of the two grounds argued by the Premier League with respect to the assessment period ending FY24, and the Premier League has now referred this to an independent Commission. Consistent with its previous commitments, the Club intends to engage cooperatively in this matter now that the Premier League’s jurisdiction has been established for the period ending FY24. However, we will not be able to comment further on these proceedings until they are concluded, due to their confidential nature.

In the spirit of healthy debate. I wanted to challenge some of this. It's difficult to judge Glover when we're such a manager-led organisation and PSR was a big problem in the summer - we missed out on a series of targets because they were reluctant to make a move when a points deduction hung over us. It meant we ended up with players way towards the end of our list. Agree the PL transfers were a failure but how many of them are players you think Glover genuinely scouted and chose? We know Ayew, Skipp and Edouard were signings Cooper pushed for, the worst of the bunch, while Golding was a PSR fix. So that leave Facu, Bilal, Okoli, BDCR and Coulibaly. We had a very limited budget, and Woyo may still be decent next season, while Facu and Bilal have shown at least glimpses. Okoli, while a good prospect, wasn't what we needed so that's a clear miss while BDCR hasn't worked out. I don't think it's a coincidence that when we had a manager with a clear idea that we had a strong transfer window under Enzo - Fatawu, Akgun (as you point out, look what he's done this season), Mads, Cannon and Mavididi were superb signings and we know from Enzo's comments that Glover was key in a few of those signings. The whole structure needs changing, but I think pinning the cluster**** of the transfer window on him isn't fair.

I suspect the club are meeting/sounding out candidates and comparing their plans with RvN's. If that's correct, I think that's a sensible approach - it's crucial they get it right. But if they're delaying because of FFP, we've got big problems and shows the board haven't learned their lessons (which is probably more likely to be true!)

I think Ayew has been the worst of our signings by any means (looking at you BCR, Skipp, and Edouard) - you could argue he's been one of the better ones given the key role he's played in a few of our wins. His goals return for us is his best in years at a PL level.

If the rumour is true that Glover will have more influence and Rudkin is being moved into a more general role, then Rohl will surely be very high on our list given they worked together. And we have a record of going back after targets - Rodgers and Potter most recently, and of course we re-appointed Pearson.

@kingfox His Lens team gave us a footballing lesson in the friendly match before this season, and the more I read about him, the more I think he’d be a good fit.

Why can't Chelsea just f'off!

Manning as the manager, and Nigel as DoF? Sign me up. Not averse to Dyche, think we need someone with strong character to sort out the culture at the club. And I like the idea of an experienced head given the major overhaul we're likely to see in playing staff over the summer.

Asked ChatGPT for an Italian coach suggestion given our record of success with managers of that nationality, and it suggested Alberto Gilardino. Any thoughts on him? Got to say, it is impressive with how it does its analysis - gave me a decent strengths vs. weaknesses. Even if Rudkin has very limited knowledge of the market outside of the UK, it's such a simple tool and you'd hope they were at least exploring it to broaden their thinking. Interestingly, having set developing young players are a key criterion, it keeps suggesting Bo Svennson, with Will Still highly favoured as well.

Jordan Blackwell suggesting that RvN thinks he's on his way out based on his interview: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ruud-van-nistelrooy-shifts-tone-10154655

Fully agree, it's the big issue at the club that it's so reliant on the manager rather than a strategy from the DoF who then picks the head coach based on this to avoid constant turnover of players and style. Also, agree on giving the academy talent time - we need a coach that can develop them as well. Seems to suggest an experienced, top-level assistant coach hungry to be a manager might be the best of both worlds, like Enzo.

The big difference I've noticed this season is the quality of coaching and tactics in the PL. It's gone up a level, especially when you think a club like Palace has Glasner as their manager. That's why RVN has struggled, he doesn't have the nous and experience at this level (yet). I don't think it's a coincidence that Enzo and Hurzeler have arguably been the poorest performing managers outside of the bottom 3 based on the investments their clubs made as it's their first seasons as this level as well (Slot is the exception I know). McKenna has been found wanting tactically as well, his set up for the Championship just hasn't worked for the PL. It seems either extensive European experience, if not PL experience, is key now to thrive in this league. That makes me a bit concerned about going for someone less proven (it's why I'm open to Dyche although his lack of progressing young players is worrying but there are some positives like Branthwaite, McNeil and Tarkowski) but guess that's an issue for if we get promoted. Chat GPT suggested Carsley initially but he seems to have ruled himself out. I asked for some other options based on our current season, and it automatically focused on managers to develop young players - Will Still, Carlos Cuesta, Davide Ancelotti, Rene Maric and Eric Ramsay were some of the names. Don't know much about Maric or Ramsay, except know the latter has been linked with other roles.

Fichajes is such a bad source, but very likely he's going and seems like it's Man City.

Loved Northcroft's book about us so looking forward to this podcast! Well done to the BSLB team for getting him on.

Romano posted that Fabregas is set to stay at Como so can rule him out. Seemed like a non-starter anyway given their position vs. ours. ChatGPT said Carsley should be the manager, probably a better judge than Rudkin!

What was he thinking playing Faes and Reid? The former wants out, and the latter doesn’t have enough pace for this system, and looks like they were two of the poorest performers today. How does Okoli feel after getting his chance and scoring but not playing the next game? Yet another contradictory decision when he talked about playing players who want to play and have a future at the club. So disappointed, his decision-making has been so bad.

I think the thing that Guy hinted at but couldn't quite say as it would undermine his defence of Rudkin was his inference that we simply haven't kept up with the progress of the PL, it's evolving so quickly and the standards are so high.

Here is the link, worth a listen as a very good summary of the issues:

Try to be objective, especially when something has such a negative reaction so my take is: 1. Fully agree with what people are saying about his defence of Rudkin. Vichai's ambition was Europe for the club, that should be our aim. We're one of the few sides to have completed the domestic treble - history is not destiny, and we had been a yo-yo club before the 90s but now, we have the platform to be far bigger. For example, in social following, we’re in the top 10 in the league so gives a flavour of our reach. Really disliked what he said about that, although I think it's fair enough that Rudkin should get some credit for our most successful years as much as being criticised for the previous few years. The buck stops with Rudkin - you can't simply keep blaming the managers as he chooses them - and losing £150m worth of talent for free is horrible mismanagement. 2. I think the references to what level the likes of Alves and Braybrooke are currently does not reflect their ceiling - no one can argue Alves is a PL-ready player yet so think that's been misconstrued. 3. He's right, we can't simply assume these young players can step in and we need to have that experience as well. But we do need a manager that will embrace the talent coming through Seagrave. 4. I don't mind his language - he's been a player and reflects how and what they think. A bit of directness was refreshing, and sadly it makes clear that the football system is full of sharks as we expected. 5. It's a shame he wasn't challenged more during the interview. Overall thoughts are I think BSLB did good to have him - it's created controversy and insightful to hear from someone directly who’s worked at the club. It’s created healthy debate here, but wish there had been more of the same during the discussion itself.

Alex Crook just said they're impressed with Lampard as well so let's hope!

Would have been a far better signing than Skipp